Furniture Glossary

Tables - CONSTRUCTION
All links are to Buffalo, NY, pages unless otherwise indicated.

Table of Contents:

Diagram

Tops

Base / Legs

Stretchers

Feet

Pembroke drop leaf table -
American Antique Furniture, Orchard Park, NY

Tops

Apron / Skirt
A shaped piece which is fixed between the legs of a settee or chair, or below the frieze rail of a table, cabinet, or chest; usually it is decorated with carving, or is pierced or shaped

Also called the frieze (see below)

Illustration: Pierced - Horace Reed House

Lang Collection

Butterfly leaf support
A butterfly-winglike bracket to support a raised table leaf.

Illustration: Pembroke drop leaf table - American Antique Furniture, Orchard Park, NY

See also: Butterfly table

Escutcheon

Frieze
The underframing of a table between the top surface and the legs

Also called the apron or skirt (see "apron" above)

Illustration: Ansley Wilcox Mansion / Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site

Gallery

Illustration: 3-sided metal gallery - 1790s Federal China Cabinet

Serpentine

Illustration: Reproduction Hepplewhite sideboard - Kittinger Furniture Co.

Skirt

See "Apron" above

**Tops**
	Apron / Skirt A shaped piece which is fixed between the legs of a settee or chair, or below the frieze rail of a table, cabinet, or chest; usually it is decorated with carving, or is pierced or shaped Also called the frieze (see below) Illustration: Pierced - Horace Reed House Lang Collection
	Butterfly leaf support A butterfly-winglike bracket to support a raised table leaf. Illustration: Pembroke drop leaf table - American Antique Furniture, Orchard Park, NY See also: Butterfly table
	Escutcheon
	Frieze The underframing of a table between the top surface and the legs Also called the apron or skirt (see "apron" above) Illustration: Ansley Wilcox Mansion / Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site
	Gallery Illustration: 3-sided metal gallery - 1790s Federal China Cabinet
	Serpentine Illustration: Reproduction Hepplewhite sideboard - Kittinger Furniture Co.
	Skirt See "Apron" above

Base / Legs

Baluster base

Birdcage support

Square support made of two planks (top and bottom of the "cage") joined by columns ("birds").

The double-block construction makes it possible for a tilt-top table to rotate and tilt. When the table top is down, the latch, set between the cleats on the under side of the top, holds the top down until it is released by opening the latch.

Used especially by Philadelphia furniture makers.

Illustration: Reproduction Chippendale tilt-top tripod table - Kittinger Furniture Company

Hollow center post for electronic wiring - Kittinger Furniture Company

Reproduction Duncan Phyfe dining table - Edward Harvey House

Custom Dining Table - Kittinger Furniture Company

Piecrust table - Private collection, Buffalo, NY

Cabriole (KAB ree ole) leg

Cup and cover (melon bulb) leg

Marlborough leg

Illustration: Reproduction Chippendale English tea table - Kittinger Furniture Company

Pedestal

A supporting base or block for a statue, vase, table, etc.

Illustration: Center table - Horace Reed House

Tilt-top pedestal table - Ansley Wilcox Mansion / Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site

Candlestand - St. John's Grace Episcopal Church

Second candlestand - St. John's Grace Episcopal Church

Federal dining table - Kittinger Furniture Company

Spiral leg

**Base / Legs**
	Baluster base
	Birdcage support Square support made of two planks (top and bottom of the "cage") joined by columns ("birds"). The double-block construction makes it possible for a tilt-top table to rotate and tilt. When the table top is down, the latch, set between the cleats on the under side of the top, holds the top down until it is released by opening the latch. Used especially by Philadelphia furniture makers. Illustration: Reproduction Chippendale tilt-top tripod table - Kittinger Furniture Company Hollow center post for electronic wiring - Kittinger Furniture Company Reproduction Duncan Phyfe dining table - Edward Harvey House Custom Dining Table - Kittinger Furniture Company Piecrust table - Private collection, Buffalo, NY
	Cabriole (KAB ree ole) leg
	Cup and cover (melon bulb) leg
	Marlborough leg Illustration: Reproduction Chippendale English tea table - Kittinger Furniture Company
	Pedestal A supporting base or block for a statue, vase, table, etc. Illustration: Center table - Horace Reed House Tilt-top pedestal table - Ansley Wilcox Mansion / Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Candlestand - St. John's Grace Episcopal Church Second candlestand - St. John's Grace Episcopal Church Federal dining table - Kittinger Furniture Company
	Spiral leg